[two_fifth margin_top=”20px” class=”acb-img-container float-right-container” ] The Alliance has been working hard with partners and residents for the past three weeks to install 13 rain gardens and BayScapes for homeowners in the Bellemeade Community.

This project is taking place as part of the larger Goode’s Creek Coalition’s Walkable Watershed Project. The Alliance has been partnered with the City of Richmond, Green Infrastructure Center, James River Association, and FIRST Contractors Inc. to help the Goode’s Creek Coalition reach their goal of making their community a safe, clean, and beautiful community where children can walk to school and enjoy learning about the natural environment around Goode’s Creek, which flows through their neighborhood. Since the beginning of this project, a park has been created by the creek, several cleanups have occurred, trees have been planted, and now homeowners have started understanding the ways they can improve the creek by having rain gardens and BayScapes in their yards. These important watershed protection projects will reduce polluted stormwater runoff to the impaired creek while producing valuable habitat and stream buffers that have been degraded over time.[two_fifth margin_top=”20px” class=”acb-img-container float-right-container” ] The Alliance partnered with a workforce training non-profit organization called FIRST Contractors Inc. to install all 13 projects. FIRST Contractors Inc. provides opportunities for at risk youth to better themselves by providing valuable job training skills and self-empowerment. The Alliance is proud to work with FIRST Contractors Inc. and continue to provide green infrastructure jobs to the youth community throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

This project is possible due to the generous support of our sponsors and funders: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation‘s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, Altria, Luck Stone, and the City of Richmond.